Two Shops

Whether or not you're giving in to the *slightly* excessive Christmas consumption and shopping frenzy - myself I stopped exchanging Xmas gifts with the immediate family some years ago, still do it with a few friends though. Yes, it is rather fun to try and find, or make, the perfect gift for that special friend... - here are two lovely smallish shops in Stockholm where you definitely will find the perfect gift for most anyone.

First, 49 kvadrat, at S:t Eriksgatan 88 (close to S:t Eriksplan) - with a very chatty proprietor with a passion for playing Josh Groban in the shop, and you can always ask her to turn the volume up...

As the name states the shop is merely 49 squares in size and absolutely jampacked with neat interior decoration stuff, design, art, colourful china, candles, postcards, you name it. In every price range, for every wallet size and it's fairly easy to leave the shop with a bit more than you had planned for...

The other one is African Touch, at Hornsgatan 64B (close to Mariatorget) - as the name states they sell interior design, art and furniture from Africa. Since they import all the stuff themselves without any intermediaries the prices are very reasonable - some actually silly low, if you ask me...

Their philosophy is also to help boosting the African economy in the way of giving families and communities opportunities to live on their skills and handicrafts businesses, which should be environmentally sustainable. There are a lot of furniture and crafts made out of recycled items, like old railroad ties being made into beautiful chunky frames and steelwire art. This kind of shopping is made with both mind and heart.

If you're so inclined, happy shopping!